Cytotoxicity as a marker of mussel health status

Cytotoxic activity of the mollusc Mytilus galloprovincalis haemolymph was considered as a possible marker of mussel health status. An easy-to-use and low-cost cytotoxicity test was set up to assess whether cytotoxicity is influenced by environmental stress such as an increase in water temperature or a reduction in water pH or salinity. Experiments demonstrated that, despite great variability in cytotoxic activity among the mussel populations, changes in the water physical conditions reduce mussel cytotoxicity, making animals more vulnerable to pathogen aggression.